U.S. sanctions 7 individuals, gas company over Ukraine crisis

WASHINGTON, April 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Treasury Department on Friday imposed sanctions on six Crimean officials, a former Ukrainian official and a gas company in connection to the crisis in Ukraine.

The individuals and the Crimea-based gas company Chernomorneftegaz are being sanctioned for being responsible for contributing to the current situation in Ukraine, said the Treasury Department in a statement.

The United States freezes the assets of the designated individuals within U.S. jurisdiction. It also forbids Americans from having transactions with Chernomorneftegaz and the blacklisted individuals.

Friday's action represents the third round of sanctions the United States is imposing in connection to the Ukrainian crisis. It has warned Russia that there would be sanctions if it continues to escalate the situation in Ukraine.

"Crimea is occupied territory. We will continue to impose costs on those involved in ongoing violations of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," said Under Secretary of Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, David Cohen.

The U.S. Treasury Department named the blacklisted individuals as separatists Pyotr Zima, Aleksei Chaliy, Rustam Temirgaliev, Yuriy Zherebtsov, Mikhail Malyshev, and Valery Medvedev and former Ukrainian official Sergey Tsekov.